Fashion Friday

Two questions from yesterday's chat dealt with the world of accoutrements. Find answers to your manbag and custom t-shirt questions after the jump.

Washington, D.C.: Got a new job, and I need a briefcase. Any idea where the young hipster professional dudes go to get their natty bags??

I was so psyched about tracking down an answer to this question that I accosted a friend at happy hour, begging him for the deets on where he got his bag. His answer? J. Crew. I wanted to provide a more local, more hip option than the prepster chain, but in these mid-season doldrums, bags for the hip young professional are hard to come by. Here's a sample of the offerings at local stores:

-Circle Boutique: Of the stores I called, Circle's probably your best bet. They offer a leather messenger-style bag by Buckler that has handles instead of a strap.
-Carbon: The hip Woodley Park shoe store dabbles in the bag department. You'll find Manhattan Portage canvas carryalls here year-round, but the store also offers Medium Footwear Brand's line of leather bags from time to time. No leather totes are in stock right now, but expect to see some come fall.
-The District Line: You won't find leather at this Adams Morgan staple, but sportier messenger styles by Ben Sherman and Fred Perry might fit the bill (and may be better for your wallet). In September, the boutique is moving from Adams Morgan to Georgetown, where it will focus exclusively on men's styles. Owner Marshall Thompson tells me that leather bags may make an appearance in the new location.

Until next season, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole and the big department stores are reliable -- if unoriginal -- options. Not sure on your style? Cory Ohlendorf, The Post's Shopper columnist, wrote about bags for men in a March article.

Our next question comes from a regular reader with a serious mission:

Washington, D.C.: Several months ago, I asked if you knew of t-shirt shops that would make a custom t-shirt with a message of my choosing. You suggested making my own with iron-on paper. I appreciate the suggestion, but it has not worked. My computer software (damn you, Bill Gates) would not reverse the text as needed for the iron-on. I got a friend to create a file with reversed text and send it to me, but the iron-on paper does not work in a laser printer (it is peeling as it comes out of the printer) and I do not have access to a non-laser printer. So, I'm back to my original query: do you know of a t-shirt shop (metro-accessible, DC preferred) that would make a custom t-shirt with a message of my choosing?

If you're willing to order a minimum of 12 shirts, Rockville's ABC T-Shirts is a great local choice. Back in the day, I used them to make about 50 custom Ts at a time. They were friendly, well-priced and timely. The location isn't particularly convenient for the car-less, but the tucked-away storefront is accessible from the White Flint metro stop.

And now a question for you, custom t-shirt person: we're dying to know what your t-shirt's gonna say. Let us know in the comments field below or e-mail us at julia (dot) beizer (at) washingtonpost.com.

I am a t-shirt making fool! One option if it is just text you are after...is michaels and doing on Iron on letters...another option is a place called La/Le T-Shirt in Arlington. I'm not sure but I believe it is on lee highway?